The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-13
SOME GENTLE REMINDERS.
WHAT THE FARMERS SHOULD DO IN THE
MONTH OF JULY.
The Laying By of the Crops. and
Some Useful Hints About Plant
ing the Fall CrOpS--.The Winding
up of the Work by Social Gather.

Southern CHltirut0r.

up of the Work by Social Gather
ings.
Southern cpnirntor.
Tho reader OF these "Thoughts for the
Month" should bear in mind that they nre
chiefly in the nature of suggestions or re-
mindcrs of work proper to DC done on Inc
firm durng the current mnntn; ;,,o Lme dts
cllsslOn of these subjects. Farmers are like
other men, often forgettul of duty obligation
and purpose, and must be reminded. An ola
proverb SAYS there is nothing new under the
sun, or "words 10 that effect" and 1t is about
as true of farming MS of other departments Of
life work. The larger part Of the present agri-
cultural books and periodicnls-in lact ncary
every principle laid d0wn-is but repetition.
New facts are few and fur between. Agricul-
turnl teachers aud writerS-inclutling editors
are rarely conscious Of telling anything
new. What Is really new and before un-
known in the agricultural world-the result
Of the researches OF ycnr-wuud make only
a few paragraphs In the Cultirator.
Line upon line, prccept upon precept,' was
never more aptly quoted as q rule for guild
ance in teaching than in all efforts for the dis
seminatlon OF agricultural knowledge. We
vary the form of expression, or change the
connection. we utter from different stand.
point an idea, often before presented. without
making any mpresSiOn-without finding
lodgment. But now the idea seems new and
attractive; the wonder Is that II was never
thought Of before: 1t makes an impression, II
excites inquiry, provokcS investigation; 1t Is
finally tested by practice and It's value real.
ized. SO "wisdOm runs TO ana ana lro anu
knowledge Is increased"
LAYING BY.
It used to be common custom in Middle
Georgia and corresponding regions OF other
States to 10y by the crops Of corn and cotton
before the "GlOrious Fourth" II was the am
bition OF every owner or manager OF mrn
or plantation to have corn and cotton fields
so clean that not a "baslketful'' of grass might
be gathered in q search OF the entire crop:
The changes in the conditions OF labor and
soil have extended the period Of cultivation.
We have not SO largen proportion OF virgin
been largely deprived of their vegetable mat
ter, and have acquired the habit of running
together and forming n hard crust after each
the work of the sweep and cultivatof TO keep
the surface loose and porous, and the actual
impoverIshment OF the soil requires longer
time for the plant to reach that size and con-
dItion of development where culture is no
longer required, or may no longer be permit
ted without actual loss. In respect of cotton,
while the improved varieties are generally
earlier In fruit development, yet the tendency
later than formerly. There is no essential
difference In the objects and details Of culti-
walton in July as com pared with June. Corn
which should be thoroughly well done but
very shallow. We used to think that the
most effective hoe-work In the corn-ileld was
that which was done rs the tinnl "laying by"
of the crop when the Struggling punches OF
grass and those around Grubs and stumps
that had eluded the plowman so long were
destroyed by the slower but surer work OF the
10 give it-need not be row by row, but sort
of broadcastng over the field, several rows
being taken by each hand at one time. The
same remarks will also apply TO laying by"
same object being had in View In both cases,
the encouragement OF steady plant growth
and development We utterly dlsapprove Of
the practice Of chilling, up" corn either with
one as taking the soil from where It Is need
ed and putting 1t where 1t Is not needed"
FLOWING IN DRY WEATHER.
If there occur prolonged spells Of dry
weather, and the clean condition OF the crop
the absence Of grass and weedS-makc 1t an
to use pow or sweeP ior ner de
Is q good general rule to plow O cotton-field
when there has been no rain since last plow-
ing and the field Is absolutely clean of weeds.
The question will occur to any farmer OF a
few years experience, md It Is certainly
practical one. Some farmers believe III plow-
ing deeper as the ground becomes dryer,
claiming that deep plowing VII bring up the
ND the moisture" in the sense that the moist
soil lies several inches below the surface will
be brought to the surface; but we can see no
benefit or advantage IN removing the SOL
borhood of the plant roots (where II can do
the most good). and bringing it TO the surface
TO be immediately dried by the sun and
wind. Our own experience ana observation
that has been once thoroughly plowed since
any rain has fallen. 1T may not result In act
ual harm 10 the growing. crop and the latter
may even he benefited. but it is extremely
doubtful If the "game be worth the candle"
SOWING PEAs-CkovER.
r., tboro folds of corn which haye n nj rp-
ceivcd the final plowing, we urge the sowing
of peas when that work is done. The benefit
that the soil receives from crOpof pea vines,
even though scattered and thin, Is subStan-
tial, real and certain. y sack OF guano, or
even n load OF rich-looking compost, may.
and sometimes does deceive the "vcry elect
among farmers. nnd fails tn rccompGnsc Tor
money or labor expended; but pc;l-vine has
an established and undiSputcd reputation
the same yesterday, to-day and forever. y
farmer who has II field on which crop Of
pca-vincs has been grown and returned to the
soil possesses n guarantee OF good crop next
season that gives more confidence than the
"gnara ntCcd analysis" Of the fertilizer manu-
facturer. AS long ms the pea seed hold out
they should bc sOwn on every acre OF corn
0cld. If over red clover was blessing to any
country aS u rcstorer and rcnovntor OF land,
the COW pen must certainly be our great rell-
ancc 10 perform the same good work In the
cotton belt of the South. Glover viii do very
well in the lime or clay soils north of 81 de
grtes and In some instances 1t may succeed
further south, But erGn nnder the most IA
yOrahle circumstances ami i'll the cotton rc
zion, field that may be relied on to yield n
good crop OF red clover will rarely he seeded
to clover, because snch conditions OF SOIL and
preparation and manurlng a. would result IN
q good clover crop would yield COOL crop of
corn. cotton, wheat, or anything. else. Our
conditions In the extreme South demand MS
soil renovator n plant that is more thoroughly
Mt home than covcr-on that needs no spe-
cial soil, preparation or mannrinS, but Will
grow where anything else Will grow, ana
flourish where other crops would fail. This
we have In the cow pea, whose adaptation to
poor soils and hard treatment has originated
the saying-arplied TO very poor land:-"ioo
moor to sprout peas" If ever our land Is to
he brought into high state of cultivation
and rich prOductivencss-a condition even
better than TINT of our very best virgin acres
it must be done by system or renovating
crops, grass culture and stock husbandry. IL
il the natural nlettod Of soit-Ddkin0 modifled
basis of all extensive and permanent I'M
In agriculture.
LATE SUMMER CROPS.
In addition to peas there are few other
crops whose planting may still continue, sue
cess being dependent more upon seasons. 1t
should be remembered that ate-planted crops
require rich soil and deep preparation. For
agc crops of corn, millet, sorghum, ETC., may
still be made, but will not amount to much
without good ground, good preparation and
reasonable seasons. If such paintings be
made and the plants started of IN July. the
ture fine yields. We have had fine success
with cat-tilil millet sown even so late us Au-
gust lst The best potatoes for Keeping, as
we'll as for planting next spring are. made
from vines set out In well-plowed, good soil
A.. a. g T,,It tNln fntt